Theftproof tire-valve cap



June 24, 1930. v H. HEINRICH 1,767,834

THEFTPROOF TIRE VALVE CAP Filed Mrch so, 1929 INVENTOR Hcgyison Hlinrick ATTORNEYS Patented June 24, 1930 j v warren stares PATENT @FFHQE HARRISON HEINRICH, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK THEF'IPROOF TIRE-VALVE CAP Application filed March 30, 1929. Serial No. 351,144.

This invention relates to a device designed is also shorter in length than the length of and adapted to prevent the theft of a cap the said bore 17. It will therefore be apapplied to a tire valve stem. parent that the guard has rotatory and axial The principal object of the invention is movement with respect to the cap 12. In the provision of a simpleand eflicient device, order to cause the cap 12 to rotate with the 55 which will be under the control of an authorguard 14 there is provided means presently ized person, to make it possible to apply the to be described. The guard 14 has a tapped usual cap to a valve stem, or to make it hole 18 in the closed end concentrally therepossible to remove said cap by such authorof. Use is made of a key 19 having a threadized person, but which may be employed to ed portion 20, knurled portion 21 for the 60 make it impossible for an unauthorized perpurpose of screwing the portion 20 into and son to remove the cap. out of the hole 18, and a bifurcated end porlVith the foregoing object, other objects of tion 22 to accommodate a suitable implethe invention will appear from the embodiment for a similar purpose. It will now be ment of the invention, which by way of exapparent that when the threaded port-ion ample, is described in the following speciof the key 19 is screwed into the hole 18, the fication, and illustrated in the accompanying end thereof projecting into the bore 17 will drawing, in which bear on the cap 12, causing relative move- Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and ment of the cap 12 and the guard 14 in oppo- 20 partly in elevation of a portion of a tire site directions, and as a consequence the cap 7 valve stem, and a device embodying the in- 12 will be brought into engagement with the vention, the parts thereof being shown in a edge or flange 16. In this manner the cap relationship which enables a cap to be ap- 12 and the guard 14 are coupled together so plied, or to be removed from the stem; that these parts will be rotatable as a unit,

25 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showthereby enabling a person to screw the cap 12 75 ing a relationship of parts preventing the on the stem 10. It will also be obvious that removal of the cap; and the cap 12 may be unscrewed from the stem Fig. 8 is a view of the key used for apply- 10 by using the key 19 in a similar manner. ing or removing the cap. When the key 19 is removed, the guard 14 Referring now more particularly to the will rotate relatively to the cap 12, due to so several views of the drawing, it will be apthe fact that the edge or flange 16 will be parent, that there is shown a portion of a disengaged from the cap 12. It will theretire valve stem 10 threaded as at 11 to refore be apparent that any attempt to remove ceive the usual cap 12 which is adapted for the cap 12 Will result in the mere free rotathreading engagement with the stem 10. tion of the guard 14 on the cap 12 without The cap 12 is provided with the usual gasket sufiicient frictional contact therewith to 13 to seal the open end of the stem 10 by cause the cap 12 to rotate with the guard 14. Contact therewith when the cap 12 is applied Consequently it will be impossible for an unto prevent leakage of air. authorized person to remove the cap 12 when 40 The device of the present invention inapplied to the stem 10. w cludes a guard, shell, hollow body or supple- While there has been shown and described mental cap 14 within which the cap 12 is ara practical and preferred means for attainranged. The guard 14 is open at one end, ing the objects of the invention, it is to be as at 15 to accommodate the stem 10. The understood that changes and modifications guard 14 is provided with an inturn-ed circumay be made without departing from the lar edge or flange 16 interiorly of the open spirit of the invention, the scope of which end thereof, which prevents the cap 12 from is limited only by the terms of the appended being separated from the guard 14. The cap claim. 12 is slightly smaller in diameter than the I claim:

' diameter of the bore 17 in the guard 14, and The combination with an internally threaded valve stem cap, of a hollow member open at one end within which said cap is arranged, said member having rotatory and axial movement on said cap, said 1101- low member being provided with an interior edge on the open end, said edge preventing said cap from being separated from said hollow member, and a separate element for threading engagement with said hollow member and adapted when so engaged to bear on said cap, to bring said cap into engagement with said edge, to cause said cap to rotate with said hollow member, for the purpose of screwing said cap on a valve stem, said element being removable to release said cap from engagement with said edge, to allowsaid hollow member to rotate on said cap, to prevent said cap from being unscrewed from said stem.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 28th day of March, A. D. 1929.

HARRISON HEINRICH. 

